Wall cleaner



p 8, 1934. J. R. RANEY 1,973,779

WALL CLEANER Filed Sept. 28, 1933 /5///v/? fivmsf Patented Sept. 18, 1934 1 --This' invention relates to devices for cleaning surfacessuch as walls or ceilings.

=Th'e primary object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaner for walls or the 515 5 like;which includes a cleaning element of sponge rubber and a'ho'lder and handle therefor, whereby the s'por'ige'rublcier may be effectively applied to the surfaces to be cleaned.

*Further objects of the invention are:

To provide, a cleaning element comprising a tubular member of sponge rubber and a holder theref'or which may be disposed within the tubular element and caused to firmly and effectively hold the element;

1 To provide means permitting the tubular member to be shifted relatively to the holding 'part,- whereby the entire surface of the cleaning element may eventually be brought into use;

-To' provide -a tubular element which may be turned inside-out whereby the original inner surface inay b'e" caused to become the outer surface and behut ilizab'le as the cleaning elernent, and g 1 l Generally to improve the'design and construc tion, of such adevice.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishmentwill readily be understood from. the 1. following specification on reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. '1 is a side elevation of the complete cleaner with a portion thereof broken away to show the interior construction.

-.,Fig'.:.2 is alsection taken as on the line 11-41 ,of.Fig. l, the handlelbeing' shown in elevation,

' and both figures. being shown with the holding element collapsed as it would appear during in settiohingor rerhoval from, the cleaning elemenu, l I i Fig. 3 is alsection taken on the same line Fig.2 showing the holding element expanded to grip the interior of .the' cleaning element. :Fig; Lisa top view of a fragmentary portion of the cleaning element, showing a slot cut thereininL-place ofthe' holes elsewhere shown. Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated .by numerals, is arr-elongated tubular cleaning element preferably oi sponge rubber within which is an expansible member or holder, comprising two separable parts 11 and 12 which preferably are substantially semi'ecylindrical in exterior conformation. Substantially. at, the center, both: longitudinally and transversely the part 12 is interiorly threaded to receive the shank 13 of a handle 14, the threading preferably being accomplished b'y-se'curing' a nut 15 in such part 12. The shank 13 of the handle 14 projects through the nut-15 and into'halcup shaped depression 16 in the part 11, whereby tightening of the handle,

forces the parts 11 and 12 apart as. shown, in

Figure 3 thus expanding the expansible member and causing same to grip the interior of the tubular cleaning element 10. H

Firmly secured in one of the parts, as the part 12, are rivets 1'7, one only showingin the views; These rivets are slidably mounted in the opposite part, as the part 11, with their heads .18 in suitable pockets 19 formed in such part whereby the rivet heads prevent excessive separation of the parts. v

20 is a clamping plate against which the handle 14 seats, and whichplat'e is forced by the handle, when tightened, against the cleaning member and efieetually clamps the same, against the holder part 12. Preferably the clamping plate 20 is provided with an inwardly extending tubular part, or sleeve, 21 which permits the passage of the'shanl; 13 and houses such shank in part, particularly that part of theshank which is within the sponge rubber. Preferably the length-of the. sleeve 21 is such, that itseats against the nut 15 immediately before the limit bolts become efiective. It will be understood that a suitable hole 22 is made in the part 12 :derstood thatthese holes need not becylindrical but that acut 23A as shown in Fig. i ornay substituted, it being feasible to insert the shank or tubular part through such a slit, and in some cases advantageous to haveoa; slit in the outer surface, ratherthan anactual hole;

In assembling the ,device the handle and clamping plate are removed and the collapsed expansible member slid into place withinthe tubular sponge rubber element 10, one Of the holesin the, tubular element being aligned with the hole 22 in the expansible member. The clamping plate is then put into position with the sleeve 21 extending through the, opening in the, spongev rubber into, the aligned opening 22 in the expansible member part 12. ,The shank 13 of the handle is insertedthrough the sleeve Z'Lengaged with the nut 15 and run therethrcugh, forcing the part v11 away from, the part 12 and at the same time causingthe clamp '20'to, compress the sponge rubber and grip same against the part 12. Separation ofthe parts 11 and 12 is limited by bottoming of the s1eeve 21 and/or by the limit bolts, 1'? as the casemay be.

It will be evident-that under continuedluse the sponge rubberwill wear down on both sides and also diametrically opposite the handle leaving that portion adjacent the handle practically unuse In such event the handle may be removed, the sponge rubber element be turned 180 degrees about its longitudinal axis and the handle re-engaged thus bringing the unworn portion of the cleaning element into position for use. in the sponge rubber element, whereby other positioning may be accomplished.

It will also be understood that, should it become desirable on account of wear, or fouling of the surface of the cleaning element, or other reason, the tubular cleaning element may be removed from the holding element and be turned inside out whereby to present a fresh cleaning surface for use.

It will be further understood that as clearly shown in the drawing the tubular cleaning element preferably overhangs the ends of the holding element, so that the end portions of the cleaning element may bend over the ends' of the holding element and be eifective in corners or the like, and also so that damage may not occur from the hard ends of the holding element engaging surfaces at an angle to those being cleaned.

What I claim is:

1. A cleaner including a tubular cleaning element; a holding member disposed therewithin, said holding member comprising a pair of complementary parts, movable laterally apart, and having means limiting the separation of such parts; a clamping plate disposed along and exterior to said element, said clamping plate, said element, and one of said parts having aligned apertures, said part aperture being threaded; and a handle having a threaded shank of reduced size adapted to pass through said aligned apertures into contact with the unapertured one of said parts and having screw engagement with said threaded aperture, said shank cooperating with said parts to separate them, and the shoulder formed at the junction of said shank and handle clamping said plate against said element.

2. A cleaner, including a tubular cleaning element; a holding member disposed therewithin, said holding member comprising a pair of complementary parts, movable laterally apart, a clamping plate disposed along and exterior to said element, said clamping plate, said element, and one of said parts having aligned apertures, said part aperture being threaded; and a handle having a threaded shank of reduced si e, adapted to pass through said aligned apertures into contact with the unapertured one of said parts, and having screw engagement with said threaded aperture, said shank cooperating with said parts to separate them, and the shoulder formed at the junction of said shank and handle clamping said plate against said element.

3. A cleaner, including a tubular cleaning ele-' ment; a holding member disposed therewithin, said holding member comprising a pair of complementary parts, movable laterally apart, and having means limiting the separation of such parts; a clamping plate disposed along and exterior'to said element, said clamping plate bee ing ape'rtured and having an inwardly projecting sleeve aligned with the aperture, said element and one of said parts, having aligned apertures, said element aperture and the outer portion of said part-aperture being of size to receive said sleeve, the inner portion of said If desired additional holes may be made" part aperture being threaded; and a handle having a threaded shank adapted to pass through said sleeve and aligned apertures into contact with the unapertured one of said parts and having a screw engagement with said threaded aperture, said shank cooperating with said parts to separate them and the shoulder formed at the junction of said shank and handle clamping said plate against said element.

4. A cleaner, including a tubular cleaning element; a holding member disposed therewithin, said holding member comprising a pair of complementary parts, movable laterally apart, a clamping plate disposed along and exterior to said element, said clamping plate being apertured, and having an inwardly projecting sleeve aligned with the aperture, and of length to pass through said, element and to abutting contact within saidpai't, said element and one of said parts having aligned apertures, said elementaperture and the outer portion of said part aperture being of size to receive said sleeve, the inner portion of said part aperture being of reduced size to form an abutment for such sleeve, said inner portion being threaded; and a handle having a threaded shank adapted to pass through-said sleeve and apertures into contact with the unapertured one of said parts and having screw engagement with said threaded aperture, said shank cooperating with said parts to separate them, the shoulder formed at the junction of said shank and handle clamping said plate against said element;

5. A cleaner, including a pair of complementary elongated parts movable laterally apart, one of said parts having a threaded opening leading therethrough toward the other of said parts, a cleaning element disposed around said parts, said element being apertured to conform to said threaded opening, and a handle member having a threaded shank portion passing through said element aperture and in screw engagement, through said threaded opening into abutting engagement with the other of said parts.

6. A cleaner, including a pair of complementary elongated parts, movable laterally apart, one of said parts having a threaded opening leading therethrough toward the other of said parts, means for limiting separation of said parts, a cleaning element disposed around said parts, said element being apertured to conform to. said threaded opening, and a handle member having a threaded shank portion passing through said element aperture, and in screw engagement through said threaded opening into abutting engagement 'with the other of said parts.

'7. A cleaner including a pair of complementary elongated parts, movable apart, 'a pair of guide members secured to one of said parts and projecting therefrom substantiallythrough the other of said parts, said latter part being apertured to receive said guide members, one of said abutting engagement with the other of said parts.

JOHN R. RANEY; 

